Summer has definitely hit full force here in the Middle East. It’s only June and Dubai has already seen temperatures of 110 F. It really hasn’t felt too bad, but that’s because I’m hunkering down indoors like someone experiencing a blizzard out in Wyoming. I’m just on the other side of the spectrum. It’s not depressing like a cold winter in the north which is nice. That’s because the dang sun will not go away. Not a single wisp of cloud in the sky for the entire summer.

Super soft sugar cookies filled with Smarties candies and drizzled with white chocolate and tons of sprinkles. These Smarties Soft Sugar Cookies are like pillows of happiness!

Lets take a minute to admire these whimsical sugar cookies. How fun are these?! Sure, they look like a unicorn sneezed on them, but that’s part of the fun. They’re perfect for a birthday party or even a circus clown Bar Mitzvah. I’ll let you pick. They’re so Lisa Frank! Only my 90’s chick girls will catch that last reference.

I want to start of this post with a formal apology. Not because I haven’t been posting as much as I want to (heck, I’ve got a life. Well, not really. I have kids…so no life.) I’m apologizing because I’m positive that once you bake these Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake bars you most likely will become a recluse. You won’t want to share these with anyone which is not very nice, and no one’s going to want to hang out with a meanie. So what’s your option? You will probably lock yourself in your home and eat these for the rest of your life. So even though these are one of the most delicious things your will ever eat, I’m super sorry for turning you into a modern day Gollum.

The iconic caramel slice redressed for Valentine’s Day with a chewy red velvet base, a dreamy caramel center, and topped with dark chocolate, chopped white chocolate, and cute little red heart sprinkles. This Red Velvet Caramel Slice is way better than a box of chocolates!

I know lots of people don’t particularly look forward to the dreaded V-Day. Let’s look at the perks though. Chocolate. Red Velvet. Cheap cutesy pink and red candies. Champagne. Oh, and chocolate. I know I mentioned chocolate already, but…chocolate. I like Valentine’s because it distracts my brain from realizing my birthday was the day before and now I’m one year older. Ughh. It helps to gorge on copious amounts of champagne and sweets. Which is why I’m excited to dig into this huge slice of Red Velvet Caramel Slice.

Soft and chewy apple spice oatmeal cookies sandwiched with brown sugar and cinnamon buttercream frosting and drizzled with salted caramel. Think of the perfect caramel apple pie you can eat with your hands!

It’s cookie swap time people! I’ve only been to one cookie swap party which was back home in the states. I really wish I had participated in more because now that I’m living overseas in Dubai I haven’t heard of anybody doing that sort of thing. I think they’re too beautiful and fit to be swapping dangerous and decadent cookies between one another. I’ve done a cookie swap through the mail before, so I thought that would work until I remembered it costs about 75.00 to ship a box to the U.A.E. Whoever gets stuck with me would probably sneeze all over my cookies.

I haven’t hit the peppermint craziness yet. I’ve still got apples and pumpkins on the brain. That’s why these Caramel Apple Cookie Sandwiches are perfect for a cookie swap party. There’s always someone in the group that’s a little too stubborn to let go of Fall. So while the tables are full of chocolate peppermint meringue cookies and red and green sugar cookies, these cookie sandwiches will be sure to stick out. Plus, salted caramel. I would be grabbing anything with salted caramel drizzle. I used my Apple Pie Cupcakes as inspiration for these cookie sandwiches.

Oh, America how I miss thee. I miss your Christmas decorations that come way too early, your change of seasons, and your mountains of canned pumpkin puree. That last part is really pulling on my heart strings. I live in Dubai, and canned pumpkin does not come easily. At home I usually can grab some year round and go pumpkin crazy. In Dubai, not so much.

Halloween is only a few days away! If you’re scrambling like me about what to make at your upcoming parties, here are some of my favorite creepy desserts crawling around on the web. Here is a perfect round-up of 15 Halloween Desserts just in time for the scariest day of the year. Make sure you pin this for next year too!